Bondo_Red
Member
I see all these books like "home constructed fire arms" or "make your own gun".I'm wondering if its legal.I love making stuff so it would be a cool project.
building a gun
- Thread starter Bondo_Red
- Start date
- Status
Heavy Metal Hero
Member
Negative. It is also pretty dangerous unless you know what you are doing.
CypherNinja
Member
Guess again. 
www.homegunsmith.com
all legal issues can be learned by reading in Legal Side.
I'm almost done with my AK.
www.homegunsmith.com
all legal issues can be learned by reading in Legal Side.
I'm almost done with my AK.
VARifleman
Member
Buying a lower receiver and building from there is like buying any other gun. Building a receiver from scratch, or a partially finished casting is legal unless banned by a specific state law. It may not ever be sold or given to someone, to be transferred only through your will.
few years ago the atf said it was still 100 percent legal to make yourself 1 cartridge rifle per year. They did say you could not sell it unless you got yourself a liscense to make guns, and paid a tax on each rifle you made.
You can go buy yourself a pistol frame and get a part kit to make yourself that 1911, etc youve always wanted.
Ive seen some of those "build this pistol at home" stuff, if you look closely most of them fall into the "you shall not manufacture machine guns or machine pistols" laws.
You can go buy yourself a pistol frame and get a part kit to make yourself that 1911, etc youve always wanted.
Ive seen some of those "build this pistol at home" stuff, if you look closely most of them fall into the "you shall not manufacture machine guns or machine pistols" laws.
Last edited:
CypherNinja
Member
You can Form 1 it and get a serial number from the ATF if you want to sell it. You just can't build for the purpose of selling. The ATF really likes you to have a Type 07 FFL for that.
Also, YOU must do ALL work in completing the firearm. No "He's better at welding than I am, so he did that bit" allowed.
EDIT: Bezoar: It's 100% legal to build twenty, as well. They MUST be for you, and they MUST be done BY you, and they must NOT be for profit.
Also, YOU must do ALL work in completing the firearm. No "He's better at welding than I am, so he did that bit" allowed.
EDIT: Bezoar: It's 100% legal to build twenty, as well.
They MUST be for you, and they MUST be done BY you, and they must NOT be for profit.
MachIVshooter
Member
It is perfectly legal to build from scratch a firearm for personal use, so long as it is compliant with all title I regulations. No FA, DD, SBR, etc. Just don''t transfer it unless you file for and are approved on a form 1.
Actually, you can build an NFA firearm (Any Other Weapon, Destructive Device, Short Barreled Rifle, Short Barreled Shotgun or Suppressor) from scratch if you have an approved Form 1. I can't see any reason why you couldn't transfer it to someone else on a Form 4.
http://www.atf.gov/forms/5000.htm#firearms
http://www.atf.gov/forms/5000.htm#firearms
Bondo_Red
Member
I live in massachusetts.I imagine the laws are a bit different here but the police will probably come knocking at my door if I ask anyone in the area.
ConfuseUs
Member
That's a little paranoid. Remember, it's the evil ol' Bush who's spying on Americans. Democrats would never stoop to such levels!
But seriously though, under Federal law it is legal to make your own gun, so long as it's for your own personal use, not sold, and, if subject to the NFA, the proper hoops have been jumped through. I imagine that MA has no law against your building a gun unless it violates their AW ban, and if they have hoops to jump through to own any gun, that you've jumped through them.
Unless you're thinking that the hostile population surrounding you would report that you're some sort of dangerous nutcase?
But seriously though, under Federal law it is legal to make your own gun, so long as it's for your own personal use, not sold, and, if subject to the NFA, the proper hoops have been jumped through. I imagine that MA has no law against your building a gun unless it violates their AW ban, and if they have hoops to jump through to own any gun, that you've jumped through them.
Unless you're thinking that the hostile population surrounding you would report that you're some sort of dangerous nutcase?
Bondo_Red
Member
Yes.I do think the population would count me as a nutcase.I had a transparent plastic toy watergun keychain the size of a baby's fist.The school saw it on my keyring and acted like a brought a minigun.I've lived in the town for about 15 years,and I haven't met a single person living here that even knows how to operate a gun.and the police in my town told my friend airsoft guns are illegal to own statewide.
B_Scott
Member
How about having a local machine shop build you a "tool" to help bend the receiver correctly?
Would that fall under the "all the work yourself" illegality?
Can someone tell me what section of the code this is in so I can read it for myself?
Thanks
Would that fall under the "all the work yourself" illegality?
Can someone tell me what section of the code this is in so I can read it for myself?
Thanks
CypherNinja
Member
All jigs, tools, patterns, and whatever can be made by anyone. Its who actually employs them that counts.
So yeah, a bending jig for AK flats is no problem. They get bought and sold on the forums all the time.
So yeah, a bending jig for AK flats is no problem. They get bought and sold on the forums all the time.
Bondo_Red
Member
Should I make with one that uses actual bullets or one that just fires on blackpowder and mini balls for simplicity's sake ?
Clarifications:
1. You can build your own firearm.
2. You don't need any forms, unless building something special (e.g. NFA item).
3. You only need to do the last 20% of the work actually, which is why you can buy 80% receivers and finish them yourself.
4. The tools don't need to be owned by you. You have to operate the tools.
5. You cannot build it with intent to sell, but that doesn't mean you cannot sell it later on.
6. There is no limit on how many you can build a year, but if you build too many, you risk the ATF coming down on you.
7. Firearm doesn't need a serial number.
*state law may make any of these points invalid.
Topic has come up a few times, and there is a lot of info on the web about doing it yourself.
This guy has built a lot of stuff. http://www.cncguns.com/
Depends on your skill level, what you want, what tools you have, etc.
Generally if you are going to copy a design, it would be better to buy the firearm, because the tooling will cost more, and you will need time to read up, and you may screw up a few times.
If you have some new design and have the resources, go for it.
If you just like the idea of building your own, go for it.
1. You can build your own firearm.
2. You don't need any forms, unless building something special (e.g. NFA item).
3. You only need to do the last 20% of the work actually, which is why you can buy 80% receivers and finish them yourself.
4. The tools don't need to be owned by you. You have to operate the tools.
5. You cannot build it with intent to sell, but that doesn't mean you cannot sell it later on.
6. There is no limit on how many you can build a year, but if you build too many, you risk the ATF coming down on you.
7. Firearm doesn't need a serial number.
*state law may make any of these points invalid.
Topic has come up a few times, and there is a lot of info on the web about doing it yourself.
This guy has built a lot of stuff. http://www.cncguns.com/
Depends on your skill level, what you want, what tools you have, etc.
Generally if you are going to copy a design, it would be better to buy the firearm, because the tooling will cost more, and you will need time to read up, and you may screw up a few times.
If you have some new design and have the resources, go for it.
If you just like the idea of building your own, go for it.
justashooter
member
It may not ever be sold or given to someone, to be transferred only through your will.
that may be the rule in virginia (i doubt it), but it's not a federal law. the ATF website has a specific discussion regarding this, in which they indicate that homebuilts may be transferred. they indicate that a transferred firearm must have a serial number. there is no case law to back this fiat.
i don't have the bux to be the trial case, but will remark that a homebuilt long gun made in penna and transferred to another in-state resident does not have to pass through a dealer, so there is no need for a serial number that may be recorded in a bound book.
that may be the rule in virginia (i doubt it), but it's not a federal law. the ATF website has a specific discussion regarding this, in which they indicate that homebuilts may be transferred. they indicate that a transferred firearm must have a serial number. there is no case law to back this fiat.
i don't have the bux to be the trial case, but will remark that a homebuilt long gun made in penna and transferred to another in-state resident does not have to pass through a dealer, so there is no need for a serial number that may be recorded in a bound book.
CypherNinja
Member
Thank you for those clarifications foob.
I'm not that great at organizing points for total clarity.
I'm not that great at organizing points for total clarity.
Bondo_Red
Member
I'm not sure but I heard of a law that prohibits you from building a firearm that can fire manucfactured (any cartridges basically) ammo.I was just gonna make something from scratch,with stuff you get from the hardware store.I don't know whether it would be simpler to make a blackpowder design or some kind of mechanism that hits the primer.
Car Knocker
Member
There's no federal law to that effect.
Zen21Tao
Member
Bondo, have you considered doing a parts kit build? I've built a FAL and 3 AR15s. You just have to make sure you use the correct number of compliant parts with an imported kit.
M2Pilot
Member
Cyberninja-Thanks for the link
to homegunsmith.com
to homegunsmith.com
Bondo_Red
Member
I have though about a kit,and I definitely plan on getting one for some gun sooner or later.But having a kit kinda ruins the DIY aspect for me.I like experimenting with things and coming up with my ideas.It may not be as efficient in the end,but I get a lot more satisfaction out of building things from scratch as opposed to ready-made kits specifically made for that purpose.I guess it's kinda like camping.For some people it's just enough to be outside on designated campgrounds,and others won't be satisified until they are miles from civilization.I figured I would just make a shotgun out of reinforced pipe,wood,and some kind of mechanism to act as the reciever.
I figured I would just make a shotgun out of reinforced pipe,wood,and some kind of mechanism to act as the reciever.
Yes you could. Then you might find a piece of that pipe imbedded in your skull. I notice you're asking a lot of legal questions in other threads and it would be worth it to call the NRA or GOA and buy an hour of time from a good gun lawyer in your state. Yeah it would cost you a few hundred dollars but it would save you from having a cell mate.
Yes you could. Then you might find a piece of that pipe imbedded in your skull. I notice you're asking a lot of legal questions in other threads and it would be worth it to call the NRA or GOA and buy an hour of time from a good gun lawyer in your state. Yeah it would cost you a few hundred dollars but it would save you from having a cell mate.
- Status
